Malaysia may follow British parliamentary system

Kuala Lumpur, May 30 (IANS) Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat (parliament) may adopt the British style of sitting through the year to give more time to members to debate and pass bills. The suggestion came from Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who said more MPs were taking their time to debate bills in the parliament.

In Malaysia, parliament meetings are held three times a year.

Wan Junaidi said Thursday that this was a proposal that the parliamentary select committee would have to consider and make to the government.

However, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said that having more parliament meetings or extending the number of days would not serve any purpose if MPs did not behave in a disciplined manner while debating.

“That’s one school of thought. In fact, when we first decided on the number of days, there was a suggestion that we allow for more time,” The Star quoted Amin Mulia as saying.

Opposition Leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the move would give MPs much needed participation time but would burden the parliament’s support staff.

The deputy speaker said: “We have had to postpone several bills that were supposed to be debated because of time constraint. Maybe we will have to do a Westminster-style parliament, which sits for the whole year with holidays in between,” he told reporters at the parliament lobby.

Political analysts have noted a drastic change in the character of Malaysian parliament after the March general elections in that it has a strong 82-member opposition for the first time and frequently witnesses stormy scenes.